Christopher Shannon: Shows should feel warm

Christopher Shannon bucks the trend of "overly slick" catwalk shows.

The London-based designer has been making waves in the fashion world since graduating from the prestigious Central Saint Martins in 2008.

He's previously worked with Louis Vuitton's Kim Jones and at fashion house Helmut Lang, along with successfully launching his own label, which has been lauded one of the key brands in men's fashion.

He showed during London Collections Men earlier this year, and says music heavily influences his shows.

"For the latest collection we chose Unapologetic B***h by Madonna. No one had even really heard it, but it felt like the right song to choose because I'd also just come out of a six-year relationship. I was in this personal space where I was thinking, 'F**k you, f**k everyone'. It wasn't exactly rebellion, more like exhaustion," Christopher told GQ UK.

"[Fashion] shows can be overly slick and quite homogenised, so I'm always looking for a production quality that suits the way we work with the clothes. That's why I often use dub music as the sound always feels authentic in the speakers and allows for the show space to feel a bit warmer."

As well as his own line, Christopher also collaborates with Caterpillar and has reworked the brand's famous Colorado Boots.

He was also awarded the first ever BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund last year, and says he has lots in store for the coming seasons.

"We'll keep working with Caterpillar, but the tone of the shoe for next season will be quite different so perhaps this will set the mood for the rest of the collection. I've worked that way before, with the shoe being a starting point for an idea and then suddenly everything starts to come together.

"When people make a collection and then put any old f**king shoe on, it's horrible!" he laughed.